Welcome to SPJ Blogs Sign in | Join | Help

May 2007 - Posts

Thursday, May 31, 2007 7:09 PM

Secret Senator Unmasked

The efforts of dozens of volunteers to call their Senators to find out who put the hold on the Open Government Act worked. The secret senator revealed himself today thanks to SPJ's efforts and a number of bloggers who took an interest in this issue. U.S.
posted by DaveAeikens | 3 Comments
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 3:47 PM

Libby's lawyer opposes release of letters

The lawyer for Scooter Libby, who was convicted of perrjury earlier this year, has asked a judge not to release letters asking for leniency that Libby supporters. The brief from Bill Jeffress is here. You might remember that last week SPJ backed an effort
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Friday, May 25, 2007 8:47 PM

Salt Lake reporter defeats subpoena

A Utah judge decided that Deseret News reporter and Utah Headliner Club President  Ben Winslow does not have to testify. A win for the news business. The Deseret News has the story here. The reporter won the decision even though Utah is among the
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Friday, May 25, 2007 11:13 AM

Salt Lake reporter, Utah SPJ prez subpoenaed

Salt Lake Deseret News reporter Ben Winslow and his supporters are headed to St. George, Utah, today to fight a subpoena Winslow received from the lawyer of polygomist leader Warren Jeffs. The Salt Lake Tribune has the story. Winslow is the
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 24, 2007 2:04 PM

Indiana Supreme Court says no to more cameras

It didn't take the Indiana Supreme Court long to reject a bid to loosen restrictions on cameras in the courtroom. Supporters say they are going to try harder. Indiana is one of 13 states that have courtroom rules on cameras that are more restrictive than
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 24, 2007 11:54 AM

SPJ joins effort for Libby support letters

The Legal Defense Fund committee (President Christine Tatum, LDF Chair Dave Aeikens and FOI Chair Joel Campbell) voted to have SPJ provide amicus support and $500 for an effort by the Washington Post and Associated Press to get a look at the letters being
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 24, 2007 11:49 AM

Media groups want new FOI act by Memorial Day

The Freedom of Information Act is 40 years old and anyone who has tried to make a request knows that to say it has imperfections is being polite. A number of media and Sunshine groups, including the Society of Professional Journalists, want the Congress
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 12:53 PM

Boston Herald wants verdict reviewed

In a case that does not bode well for journalists, the Boston Herald wants a court to review a $2 million verdict it lost in a case that a federal judge brought. The judge successfully argued that the paper maliciously defamed him.
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 6:52 PM

Is web reporter a journalist?

That's the question confronting a court in Hawaii. Malia Zimmerman of the hawaiireporter.com has been subpoenaed to turn over her notes and interviews in a trial that that she is not party to. SPJ has weighed in already on the issue of some bloggers and
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Monday, May 21, 2007 1:21 AM

Board approves LDF grants

The SPJ board on Saturday made decisons to spend $15,000 from the Legal Defense Fund for two initiatives. First, the board gave $5,000 to a group in Indiana petitioning to get cameras in courtrooms. Indiana is one of 13 state with
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Tuesday, May 15, 2007 11:24 AM

South Florida subpoenas quashed

A judge has told four reporters subpoenaed in a death penalty case that they don't have to provide their notes.
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Friday, May 11, 2007 1:34 PM

Journalists subpoenaed for notes in Florida

A hearing is scheduled for today to request that a judge throw out subpoenas given to four south Florida journalists who in December witnessed a botched execution of a convicted murderer. The suppoena for notes comes from the lawyer of another death-row
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Friday, May 11, 2007 1:26 PM

Carlos Miller fundraiser

The Broward-Palm Beach New Times has a piece on the event planned to support Carlos Miller. Miller is the Miami-based independent journalist who was arrested taking pictures on the street. His case is pending. The event is Saturday. LDF gave Miller $1,000.
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 10, 2007 5:54 PM

Letter-to-the-editor libel verdict highlights legal distinction for online comments

FROM BARBARA W. WALL: LEGAL WATCHLetter-to-the-editor libel verdict highlights legal distinction for online commentsA libel verdict awarding a prosecutor $75,000 for criminal accusations made in a published letter to the editor will not be reviewed
posted by MikeKnaak | 0 Comments
Tuesday, May 08, 2007 3:44 PM

Boston Herald takes a hit

The Massachussets Supreme Court has ruled against the Boston Herald in a libel case that a judge brought against the paper. The New York Times has the story. This is one of those extremely rare cases where "actual malice" - the standard in public
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Friday, May 04, 2007 12:22 PM

Another case of a reporter suing a news organization

Former Sun-Sentinel reporter Buddy Nevins is suing the New Times for a report it did on his departure from the south Florida paper. In Tennessee, a former reporter is suing his former employer over his dismissal. And the mess in Santa Barbara is
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 03, 2007 12:47 PM

Seeking notes in New Jersey

SPJ has joined the fight in a case in New Jersey in which reporter Martin O'Shea is seeking handwritten notes taken by a secretary of the West Milford Board of Education. The case is before the New Jersey Supreme Court. The Reporters Committee for the
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 03, 2007 12:41 PM

Profiling the Shield law author

The Columbia Journalism Review has profiled Indiana Rep. Mike Pence, who is the House author of the federal Shield law. The bill was introduced Wednesday. SPJ officers are having a conference call next week with lawyers and lobbyists to talk about a
posted by DaveAeikens | 1 Comments
Wednesday, May 02, 2007 1:22 PM

Raising money in Miami

The South Florida SPJ Chapter is having a benefit May 12 for the Legal Defense Fund and for Carlos Miller's legal defense. If you live in that area, please try to attend. The vent is from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Grace Galleries and Cafe, a historic two-story
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Tuesday, May 01, 2007 2:51 PM

Talk up the Shield law

That's the instruction from SPJ President Christine Tatum. The Shield law will be introduced Wednesday afternoon, some momentum for it would be good. Check out the front of the SPJ web site for ways you can learn more and get involved.
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments